Train-indicator



(No Model.)

0. M. SHEPARD.

TRAIN 'INDIUATOR- No 272,783. Patented Feb. 20,1883.

' ATTORNEYS.

u. wanna muzm mr, Wzshingtooilll NlTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORRY M. SHEPARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TRAIN-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 272,783, dated February BO, 1883.

Application filed April 522, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ORRY MORTIMER SHEP- ARI), of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have im'ented a new and useful Improvement in Train-Indicators, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a means for indicating to the engineer, conductor, or other official of a railway-train when approaching a station the character ofthe train last passing said station and the exact time of the passing of said train.

My invention consists of a train-indicator for railway-stations, consistingot'alantern provided with indicating-dials and slots through which slidesare adapted to be worked from within the station.

It also consistsin certain details of construction and arrangement of the parts, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 represents a top view of a portion of a railway-track and station-platform, together with a portion of the station-building in horizontal section, showing thelocation and position of my improvement. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the inner or rear side of myimproved lantern or frame, and Fig. 3 an elevation of one of the sides thereof. Fig. 4is a horizontal section of my improved lantern or frame, taken in the line at: m of Figs. 2 and 3, and showing a lamp or illuminating device, D, placed therein. Fig. 5 is a similar view, taken in the line 3 y. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the pointers and gears for working the same.

The lantern or frame may be of any suitable shape and dimensions, with a portion of its sides of either clear, ground, or colored glass. The lantern is herein shown as havingits sides tapering toward the front, and as 01 suitable size to be placed near a window or other opening in the front wall of a station. It is also provided on its rear side with a door,f, to afford access to. the interior for inserting and removing a lamp.

A represents the track'; B, the station-platform, and O the front wall of the station, having a door, (7, and two windows, 6.

The lantern consists of a frame or box'like structure, having its rear side, G, wider than its front side, G and its other sides, G G, equal in width, and with theirfrontendsnearer to each other than their rear ends. It is placed with its rear side resting on or near the window-sill; so that the sides G Gr are exposedoutsideof thebuilding. These two sides are transparent. To each of the sides G G is attached a transparent indicator, representing a clock face or dial and hands, the face H being provided with figures denoting the hours and minutes, and the hands hlfiarranged to move independently of. each other. To the rear; side, G, is attached a similar dial, J, and hands 71 '5 The arbors to which these hands are attached have their innersides provided with gearing l l? m m, engagingin such a manner that when the hands on the inner dial are moved in either direction the corresponding hands on .the outer dial are moved in a corresponding direction. The sides G3 Gr are provided with grooves, preferably above the dials, for holding transparent plates or sliders containing a word or abbreviation denoting the character of the train--as, for instance, Passenger, Freight, or Express. These plates or signs are readilymoved in and out of place, like the ordinary sliders, and the rear side, G, is provided with slots 9, to admit of their insertion and removal by the attendant within the building. If desired, only the dials and plates or sliders may be transparent, and the surrounding portions of the sides (3: G opaque. The dials and slidersareprotected by exterior glass plates to prevent them from being tampered with.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: When a train passes a station, the agent or person in charge inserts through the slotg to its place in the grooves a slider denoting the character of the train, and moves the hands to indicate the exact time of passing. For example, the plate P in Fig. 3, bearing the abbreviation Pass, indicates that a passengertrain passed the station at eight minutes past nine, as shown by the hands h h, which were moved in unison with the handsii on the dial J, located under the word f West in Fig. 2.

Heretofore the passing of a. train has been scribed, and consisting of a lantern provided with indicating-dials H H and slotsg, through 15 which slides P are adapted to be worked from within the station, as set forth.

2. The combination of the dialsH J, hands h h i 5 gearing l l m m and arbors carrying said hands and gearing, substantially as and 20 for the purpose set forth.

ORRY MORTIMER SHEPARD.

Witnesses:

H. P. WOoDWARD, T. W. K'ENNAN. 

